Friday, February 23, 2018

Friday of the First Week of Lent

(Ezekiel 18:21-28; Matthew 5:20-26)

At a male spirituality retreat many of the participants were recovering alcoholics.  They had decided previously to give their lives to a “Higher Power” as Alcoholics Anonymous prefers to call God.  Now the participants were deepening their commitment to that Power.  Although alcoholism is as much a medical as a moral condition, AA at least does not deny that alcoholics have some responsibility for the problems in which they find themselves. They must recognize that they have hurt others by feeding their condition and take responsibility for not falling into the habit again.  Today’s readings portray such people as on the road to sanctity.

Ezekiel announces that the Lord wills to save, and not condemn, sinners.  God is not going to free them from responsibility of their sins but will urge them to reform.  Their reward, the oracle says, will be “life.”  In the gospel Jesus teaches his disciples that they must seek forgiveness from those they have offended if their sin offering is to be worthy.  It is a lesson that resonates with that of the Our Father:  “Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.”

It is often hard to recognize our sins and even harder to seek the forgiveness of others.  Yet both tasks are at the heart of Christian faith.  If we are going to walk with Jesus, we must humble ourselves by recognizing our need for his reconciling company.

Thursday, February 22, 2018

The Feast of the Chair of Saint Peter, Apostle

(I Peter 5:1-4; Matthew 16:13-19)

St. Peter’s “Chair” is better rendered his “Throne.”  It refers to the primacy of the pope in the college of bishops.   The pope, who is bishop of Rome, oversees the unity of the global Church and the orthodoxy of its doctrine.  He appoints most of the other bishops and encourages all of them to faithfully carry out their pastoral responsibilities.  Most of all, the pope is to guide all Christians to the fullness of charity as Jesus taught.

To meet these daunting tasks requires divine help.  In today’s gospel St. Peter shows that he has access to such assistance.  Jesus announces that Peter could not have identified him as the “Christ” and “Son of the living God” without the Father’s revelation.  Jesus also says that Peter will receive the “keys to the Kingdom of heaven.”  Like his chair, keys are a symbol of authority.  They refer primarily to the pope’s duty to decide which actions conform to the teachings of Jesus and which do not.

Pope Francis has sat on the chair of Peter for almost five years.  Although he is admired throughout the world, he has not pleased everyone within the Church.  His particular emphasis on the poor and suffering has caused a few to criticize his teaching as lax.  But no one doubts Francis’ integrity or his personal virtue.  Above all, Francis strives to imitate the historical Jesus by befriending everyone, especially those in the most need of mercy.

Wednesday, February 21, 2018

Wednesday of the First Week in Lent

(Jonah 3:1-10; Luke 11:29-32)

In his Confessions St. Augustine relates how he had two mistresses.  As he became aware of his call to holiness, he knew that he had to let go of sexual desire.  Augustine begged God, “Give me chastity and continence, but not yet.”  He made the break when he randomly read a passage from St. Paul’s Letter to the Romans: “…But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provisions for the desires of the flesh.”  The conversion was as dramatic as that of the Ninevites after hearing the preaching of Jonah in today’s first reading.

The story of Jonah is more of a fable than real history.  There is no record of a mass conversion in Nineveh or even a city so large that it would take three days to transverse.  But the point is clear: people are called to repent from sinful ways.  In the gospel Jesus laments that the people of his time refuse to repent with his preaching.  Even though he displays wisdom greater than Solomon’s and virtue greater than Jonah’s was thought to have been, people still do not respond favorably.  They only seek a sign to prove his legitimacy.

During Lent we are being called to give up sinful ways.  For some this means giving Internet pornography a definitive “no.”  Others may have to stop lying or to become more attentive to the needs of the poor.  Yes, it is hard but we have not only the incentive of eternal life but also the support of the whole Church.  Repentance, after all, is not a one in a million need.  Everyone is called to it.

Tuesday, February 20, 2018

Tuesday of the First Week of Lent

(Isaiah 55:10-11; Matthew 6:7-15)

Today’s first reading is taken from the end of the second part of the Book of the Prophet Isaiah.  It shows God about to act on behalf of His people mired in Babylon.  No more will they have to bear insults and prejudice from their overlords.  God will send them home to Jerusalem with the utterance of His word. 

In the gospel Jesus assures his disciples that the Father is ready to assist them as well.  Their prayers do not inform God of their needs nor catalyze Him to act.  Rather their prayers prepare them to receive humbly what God is about to give.  In 2010 thirty-four Chilean miners were trapped after an underground explosion.  They were of different faiths and no faith, but they began to pray together.  “We are not the best of men, Lord,” they prayed, “but have mercy on us anyway.”  All the miners survived the ordeal.

Lent is time to relearn how to pray.  We come to God humbly knowing that He can help us in our need.  We look to Him as our loving Father ready to give us what we request.  And we pray diligently, not allowing our minds to wander or our hopes to wane.

Monday, February 19, 2018

Monday of the First Week in Lent

(Leviticus 19:1-2.11-18; Matthew 25:31-46)

In the urge to give as much assistance to as many people as possible, helpers sometimes miss what is most important about a work of mercy.  If they do not treat people in need with respect, they may even being doing them harm.  Respect literally means to look twice.  It is to see in the other not just another man or woman in need but a human person with feelings, ideas, and relationships.  In light of today’s gospel, respect means to see the person in need as a substitute for Christ.

The St. Vincent de Paul Society makes respect a priority.  It heartily recommends that provisions not be handed to the needy in centers of distribution but be brought to the places where they live.  In this way not only do real needs become apparent but also a sense of concern is conveyed.  Truly helpful relationships are fostered because the people involved develop more than a superficial knowledge of one another.

It is usually not hard for us to provide services to the needy.  Sometimes, indeed, we receive remuneration for doing so.  But what the Lord wants of us in assisting the poor is to treat them as we would treat him.  That is, we are to respect them by attending to their emotional and spiritual as well as their physical needs.